Study within a Trial (SWAT)

SWAT 14: A web-based multimedia information resource on recruitment and retention of general practitioners

Recruitment in Primary Care Recruiting clinicians and patient participants to trials is recognised as a significant challenge. It is estimated that less than 50% of trials meet their target or do so with an extension to the trial length.

Randomised trial of Skype-based tele-monitoring versus standard monitoring This research will evaluate Skype-based monitoring versus traditional site visit monitoring within a large international clinical trial which aims to prevent stroke and coronary events.

The influence of different healthcare professionals delivering an intervention in a medication optimisation trial.

HRB-TMRN FUNDED 2016 Two previous studies by our research group showed there was disparity in recommendation uptake rates between physicians and pharmacists. The objective of this SWAT is, if in a medication optimistion trial, there is a difference in recommendation uptake rates between a pharmacist delivered intervention and a physician delivered intervention. There will be a qualitative aspect to the study at then end to attempt to explain any differences observed if any.

HRB-TMRN FUNDED 2016 Dissemination of the results from randomised trials has traditionally been limited to three channels: scientific meetings and journals, lay media and groups with a particular health interest. To ensure that the dissemination report is clear, simple and tailored for TRUST participants, a qualitative focus group study is to be conducted with participants to elicit their perspectives, preferences and knowledge requirements.

Statistical methods for compensating for missing longitudinal data in a cluster-randomised trial

HRB-TMRN FUNDED 2016 The objectives of the study are: 1) To compare Multiple Imputation (MI) with Maximum Likelihood (ML) modelling methods to compensate for loss to follow-up over time in a longitudinal, cluster-randomised trial. 2) To investigate the relative power and type I error rate of MI versus ML methods to compensate for missing data in a simulated longitudinal, cluster-randomised trial.

SWAT 6: Using a limited number of practitioners to recruit participants to a multicentre randomized trial

A key challenge in doing multicentre trials is that there is significant uncertainty about the best way to ensure good recruitment rates at different sites. Maintaining the interest of those responsible for recruiting participants can be a significant challenge and can slow the recruitment of new participants.

SWAT 38: Cost implications of conducting a risk assessment prior to developing a monitoring plan for a multicentre clinical trial

Assess the cost implications of conducting a risk assessment prior to developing a monitoring plan for a multi-centre clinical trial, and examine if sites that conducted a risk assessment prior to developing their monitoring plan have less protocol violations compared to the sites that did not conduct a prior risk assessment.

Investigating if an internet delivered therapy (ACT) can improve the quality of life for adults living with two or more health conditions (multimorbidity)

The progress of modern medicine has substantially increased life expectancy and improved changes of survival from previously fatal diseases. This has led to a rise in multimorbididy (MM), where a person lives with two or more long term diseases in which neither condition is considered primary...

For the read more part: In the analysis of clinical trials, maximum likelihood offers certain pragmatic advantages over multiple imputation[1] although both methods are expected to give similar results…